Biographies

Mr. Blake L. Sartini is Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Entertainment, Inc. Blake L. Sartini, our President and Chief Executive Officer, also serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Under the Merger Agreement, we agreed that Mr. Sartini (or, if Mr. Sartini is unable or unwilling to serve in such position, then such other member of our Board of Directors as may be designated by the Sartini Trust) will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a period of at least three years following the Merger. In addition, our Board of Directors has considered this leadership structure and believes it currently provides the most efficient and effective leadership model for Golden by enhancing both the Chairman’s and the President and Chief Executive Officer’s ability to provide clear insight and direction of business strategies and plans to both our Board of Directors and management. Our Board of Directors believes that a single person, acting in the capacities of Chairman as well as President and Chief Executive Officer, promotes unity of vision and leadership, which allows for a single, clear focus for management to execute the Company’s business strategies and plans. Our Board of Directors has not appointed a lead independent director.

Mr. Charles Protell has been appointed as the Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective December 1, 2016 (no later than December 1, 2016). He has served as a Managing Director at Macquarie Capital’s investment banking group since May 2011, and as Co-Founder and a Managing Director at REGAL Capital Advisors from January 2009 until its acquisition by Macquarie Capital in May 2011. Prior to co-founding REGAL Capital Advisors, Mr. Protell held various investment banking roles at Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and CIBC World Markets. Mr. Protell earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Stephen Arcana is Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President of Golden Entertainment, Inc. Stephen A. Arcana joined Golden as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in July 2015 in connection with the Merger. Prior to the Merger, Mr. Arcana served as the Chief Operating Officer for Golden Gaming from August 2003 until the closing of the Merger. From November 1995 to March 2003, Mr. Arcana held several executive positions with Station Casinos, LLC. Prior to joining Station Casinos, LLC, Mr. Arcana held a variety of hotel operations and food and beverage positions over a ten-year period with the Sands Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mr. Arcana received a bachelor of science degree in hotel and restaurant management from Widener University School of Hotel and Restaurant Management in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Sean T. Higgins is Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President of Development, Compliance and Government Affairs of the company. Sean T. Higgins joined Golden as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Business Development in March 2016 and was promoted to Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President of Development, Compliance and Government Affairs in October 2016, as well as Secretary in November 2016. Prior to joining Golden, Mr. Higgins served as principal of STH Strategies, a firm he founded in early 2015. From August 2011 to January 2015, Mr. Higgins was managing principal of Porter Gordon Silver Communications, a full-service government affairs and business strategic consulting firm. From July 2010 to January 2015, Mr. Higgins was a partner in the law firm of Gordon Silver. Prior to that, Mr. Higgins spent 17 years as general counsel and head of government affairs for a multi-jurisdictional gaming company. Mr. Higgins is a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors. He previously served on the Nevada Governor’s Gaming Policy Committee, Nevada Governor’s Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, National Gambling Impact Study Commission and the Clark County Blue Ribbon Panel on Fuel Reliability. In July 2015, he was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve on the Nevada Equal Rights Commission. Mr. Higgins received his juris doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and his undergraduate degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Nevada.

Mr. Gary A. Vecchiarelli has been appointed as the Senior Vice President - Finance and Accounting of the Company effective January 3, 2017 (no later than January 3, 2017). Mr. Vecchiarelli has served as Chief Financial Officer of Galaxy Gaming, Inc., a public company that develops, manufactures and distributes casino table games and wagering platforms, since May 2012. From July 2011 to May 2012, Mr. Vecchiarelli served as the Division Controller for Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company listed on NASDAQ. Prior to joining Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Vecchiarelli was a Manager at BDO USA, LLP and a Supervisor at McGladrey & Pullen, LLP. Mr. Vecchiarelli earned a B.S. Business Administration in Accounting from California State University at San Jose and is a certified public accountant in the states of California and Nevada.

Mr. Blake L. Sartini, II is Senior Vice President of Distributed Gaming of the company. Blake L. Sartini, II joined Golden as Senior Vice President of Distributed Gaming in July 2015 in connection with the Merger. In his current position, Mr. Sartini II oversees all distributed gaming operations in Nevada and Montana, as well as the Nevada tavern locations operating under the brand names PT’s, Sierra Gold and Sean Patrick’s. From September 2014 until the Merger, Mr. Sartini II served as Vice President of Operations for Golden Route Operations, LLC (“GRO”), a subsidiary of Golden Gaming, and from January 2012 to September 2014, he served as Assistant Director for GRO. From July 2011 to January 2012, Mr. Sartini II served as Regional Operations Manager of PT’s Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Golden Gaming, overseeing the day-to-day operations of eight taverns across the Las Vegas valley, and from January 2010 to July 2011 he served as Executive Marketing Manager for Golden Gaming’s casino group. Mr. Sartini II was among the first managers to enter into the company’s two-year Management Development Program. Prior to joining Golden Gaming, Mr. Sartini II served as Senior Business Associate with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for its international event operations and talent relations in the United Kingdom. Mr. Sartini II received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Chapman University in Orange, California.

Mr. Ned Martin is a Chief Administrative Officer of the Company. Mr. Martin previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC (ACEP), which Golden acquired on October 20, 2017. The acquisition brought to Golden Entertainment three properties in Las Vegas including the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower, Arizona Charlie's Decatur and Arizona Charlie's Boulder, as well as the Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin.

Ms. Phyllis Gilland is a General Counsel of the Company. Ms. Gilland will also join Golden Entertainment, as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and will report to Sean Higgins, the Company's Chief Legal Officer. She previously served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Compliance Officer for ACEP as well as General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for Taylor Construction Group Companies.

Mr. Lyle A. Berman is Independent Director of the Company. Mr. Berman previously served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (now known as Golden) from its formation in December 1998 until the Merger in July 2015, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grand Casinos, Inc. (the predecessor to Lakes Entertainment, Inc.) from October 1991 through December 1998. Mr. Berman also served as Chief Executive Officer of Rainforest Café, Inc. from February 1993 until December 2000. Mr. Berman served as the Executive Chairman of the Board of WPT Enterprises, Inc. (now known as Emerald Oil, Inc.) from its inception in February 2002 until July 2013. Mr. Berman also served as a director of PokerTek, Inc. from January 2005 until October 2014, including serving as Chairman of the Board from January 2005 until October 2011. We believe Mr. Berman’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his over 30 years of experience in the casino industry, including serving as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer between 1998 and July 2015, his extensive executive management experience, and his particular strengths in strategic operations and strategy, food and beverage, and retail sales.

Mr. Timothy J. Cope isan Independent Director of the Company. Mr. Cope previously served as President of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (now known as Golden) from May 2003, and as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since its formation in December 1998, until the Merger in July 2015. From 1993 through December 1998, Mr. Cope served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and a director of Grand Casinos, Inc. (the predecessor to Lakes Entertainment, Inc.). From March 2002 through May 2009, Mr. Cope served as a director of WPT Enterprises, Inc. (now known as Emerald Oil, Inc.). Mr. Cope is a Certified Public Accountant (retired) and holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition, Mr. Cope holds certificates in computer programming and industrial engineering. We believe Mr. Cope’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include over 30 years of experience in the casino industry (including more than 15 years as an officer of Golden), as well as his extensive experience in corporate finance, strategic planning, public company financial reporting and gaming operations.

Mr. Mark Lipparelli is Independent Director of Golden Entertainment, Inc. Mr. Lipparelli currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Gioco Ventures, a strategic advisory and product development firm serving the gaming, investment, technology and entertainment industries around the globe, a position he has held since 2007. Mr. Lipparelli also formerly represented State Senate District 6 in the Nevada Legislature, having been appointed to the post in December 2014, and served on various Senate committees. Mr. Lipparelli has also been an appointee to the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee. Between 2002 and 2007, Mr. Lipparelli served in various executive management positions at Bally Technologies, Inc., a gaming technology supply company listed on the NYSE, including as Executive Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining Bally, Mr. Lipparelli served as Executive Vice President and then President of Shuffle Master, Inc., a publicly traded gaming supply company, from 2001 to 2003; as Chief Financial Officer of Camco, Inc., a retail chain holding company, from 2000 to 2001; as Senior Vice President of Entertainment Systems for Bally Gaming, Inc. (a subsidiary of publicly traded Alliance Gaming Corporation), from 1998 to 2000; and various management positions including Vice President of Finance for publicly traded Casino Data Systems from 1993 to 1998. Between 2009 and 2012, Mr. Lipparelli served as a Board Member and Chairman of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board. Mr. Lipparelli is a Board Trustee Emeritus of the University of Nevada Foundation, Board Member of the National Center for Responsible Gaming, and member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors and of the International Masters of Gaming Law. Mr. Lipparelli received a bachelor’s degree in finance (1987) and a master’s degree in economics (1993) from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Mr. Robert Miodunksi is Independent Director of Golden Entertainment, Inc. Mr. Miodunski served as the Chief Executive Officer of American Gaming Systems from 2010 until its acquisition by Apollo Entertainment in late 2014. Between 2004 and 2010, Mr. Miodunski served as a consultant to Bally Technologies, Inc. From 1994 through 2004, Mr. Miodunski served in various management and executive positions with Alliance Gaming Corporation, a supplier of gaming machines listed on the NYSE, including as Chief Executive Officer from 2001, a director from 2000 and President of United Coin (a route operator) from 1994 to 1999. Mr. Miodunski has served on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Compensation Committee of Poydras Gaming Finance Corp., a provider of equipment-based finance solutions for regional, mid-sized casinos listed on the TSVX, since April 2015. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Miodunski served on the Board of Directors of Elixir Gaming Technologies, Inc., a gaming company listed on the NYSE. Mr. Miodunski received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Dallas. We believe Mr. Miodunski’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry (including serving as Chief Executive Officer of American Gaming Systems and of Alliance Gaming Corporation), his service as a director of other public gaming companies, and his extensive executive and consulting experience with public gaming companies.

Mr. Neil I. Sell is Independent Director of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. Mr. Sell has served as a director of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (now known as Golden) since its formation in December 1998, and previously served as a director of Grand Casinos, Inc. (the predecessor to Lakes Entertainment, Inc.) from October 1991 through December 1998. Mr. Sell has been practicing law at the firm of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1968 and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Sell previously served on the Board of Directors of each of Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP Foodservice, Inc., each of which was listed on the NYSE. We believe Mr. Sell’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his over 40 years of practicing law representing various public companies, combined with his extensive experience in corporate legal and corporate governance matters.

Mr. Terrence Wright is Independent Director of Golden Entertainment, Inc. Mr. Wright serves as Chairman of the Board and majority owner of Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, a company he founded in 1991 and which is licensed to issue policies of title insurance throughout the United States. Mr. Wright serves on the Board of Directors of Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE:SWX), is an emeritus member of and past Chairman of the University of Nevada Las Vegas Foundation Board and is the past Chairman for the Nevada Development Authority, the Nevada Land Title Association and the Nevada Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization. He has also served as Board member for the Las Vegas Monorail, Pioneer Citizens Bank, First Interstate Bank, Service First Bank of Nevada and the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Wright received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a juris doctor from DePaul University, Chicago, and is a member of the California and Illinois bar associations. We believe Mr. Wright’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his business and leadership experience (including serving as Chairman of the Board of Westcor Land Title Insurance Company), his service as a director of other public companies, and his familiarity with the residential and commercial real estate markets in which we operate.

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